28 February 2018
The Fisherman and the Forest
The tsunami of March 11, 2011 was first and foremost a disaster for humans. More than 22,000 people in Japan’s northeast died or went missing. However, other species were affected too, including creatures of the sea. Oyster farmer Shigeatsu Hatakeyama, known for the phrase “forests are lovers of the sea,” decided to restart oyster farming. NHK captured images of the sea working with mountains to rejuvenate itself, nurtured along by humans.
March 9 Fri. 23:10/ March 10 Sat. 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC)
Tsunami Piano
A ravaged high school piano, soaked by the tsunami, sat stoically after the Great East Japan Earthquake. Renowned musician Ryuichi Sakamoto came across it when visiting the disaster area. The sounds were divorced from conventional tonality, and Sakamoto employed them in his first album in eight years. He also attached sensors to the keys, transforming the instrument into a machine that converts seismic waves into sounds. It was his way of conveying the message that the disaster should never be forgotten. Moving to watch and listen as the teacher and students who had used the “tsunami piano” before the quake react to its new melodies.
March 16 Fri. 15:30/ 21:30/ March 17 Sat. 3:10/ 9:10 (UTC)
J-MELO on Sendai
J-MELO shines the spotlight on Sendai, the largest city in Japan’s northeast, known as the Tohoku region. In the first of two programs, host May J. and friends take a musical journey around town. Sendai proves to be a treasure trove of tunes from up-and-coming rock bands, performers of traditional folk music, and many other kinds of artists. Part two features an appearance by MONKEY MAJIK, a Canadian and Japanese band based in Sendai.
Part1: March 18 Sun. 15:10/ 21:10/ March 19 Mon. 3:30/ 9:30 (UTC)
Part2: March 25 Sun. 15:10/ 21:10/ March 26 Mon. 3:30/ 9:30 (UTC)
Tsuruko’s Tea Journey
In one form of the Japanese tea ceremony, the host serves traditional kaiseki cuisine, sake, and finally tea to the guests. The ritual, established as an art form more than four centuries ago, is believed to be the foundation of Japan’s omotenashi hospitality. One woman has decided to embark on a unique nationwide pilgrimage to immerse herself in the art. Tsuruko Hanzawa is a rare “catering chef” of tea ceremonies. At 70, she loaded her pots, pans, and tools for making tea onto a van and set off in her kimono, serving food using local ingredients and tea to the people she met along the way. Exploring a life devoted to tea, this documentary follows Tsuruko for two years as she battles illness to continue her pilgrimage.
March 30 Fri. 23:10/ March 31 Sat. 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC)
9 January 2018
Dining with the Chef : Washoku in Paris
Part 1 – Culinary Heritage Abroad
Jan. 5 Fri. 14:30/ 20:30/ Jan. 6 Sat. 2:10/ 8:10 (UTC) <28 min.>
Part 2 – Game Changers
Jan. 12 Fri. 14:30/ 20:30/ Jan. 13 Sat. 2:10/ 8:10 (UTC) <28 min.>
Master chef Tatsuo Saito and singer/actress Yu Hayami explore Japanese cuisine in Paris. Ambitious chefs in France are devoting their talents to dishes such as sushi and ramen, striking a balance between remaining true to the tradition and adding their own signatures. Chefs from Japan also are redefining the boundaries. See how they handle the ingredients of Japanese cuisine and the five basic tastes, including umami.
One Last Vision : A Photographer’s Final Journey
Jan. 5 Fri. 23:10/ Jan. 6 Sat. 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC) <49 min.>
World-renowned photographer Yoshikazu Shirakawa has been taking pictures for more than half a century. His collections include “The Alps,” “The Way of Buddhism,” and “The World’s Hundred Greatest Mountains.” Now, at 82, he is working on his 12th compilation. It pays homage to the laws of nature, from which Shirakawa believes humans should learn. The program chronicles his journey to the Midwest of the United States, where he encounters nature head on.
Alain Ducasse, Japanese Cuisine Par Excellence
Jan. 6 Sat. 23:10/ Jan. 7 Sun. 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC) <45 min.>
Alain Ducasse, master of French cuisine and worldwide restaurateur, has long held an interest in Japan’s traditional “washoku” cuisine. He has opened a restaurant in Tokyo’s luxurious Ginza area, challenging himself to make the most of ingredients sourced from across the country. With the arrival of winter, Ducasse has selected sea urchin and pole-and-line fished cod from Hokkaido, as well as Shogoin Daikon radish from Kyoto. He draws inspiration from Japan and his homeland in turning the ingredients into delectable French dishes.
Expressions from the ObscureⅡ
Jan. 27 Sat. 23:10/ Jan. 28 Sun. 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC) <49 min.>
Self-taught artists are claiming respect and recognition for themselves and their work. Marie Suzuki is one such person, a creator of what has come to be known as art brut, made by artists who have learned on their own. She cultivates her skills primarily to please herself. Nevertheless, others have taken notice. The program features an exhibition of Japanese art brut in Nantes, France, including that of Suzuki. Tune in to see how boundless imagination turns into expression beyond words.
(Source: NHK WORLD TV press release)
29 November 2017
A programme highlight in NHK WORLD’s December/January schedule are the ‘Songs of Tokyo.
Tokyo has a lot to sing about, and many of Japan’s best-known artists did just that in two nights of performances at NHK Hall.
Among the artists featured are: AKB48, Aqours, Cornelius, Joe Hisaishi, Kana Nishino, KANJANI∞, KyaryPamyuPamyu, Linked Horizon, LiSA, MAN WITH A MISSION, MIYAVI, NEWS,
Perfume, SEKAI NO OWARI, T.M.Revolution,XJAPAN
You can listen to “NHK WORLD presents SONGS OF TOKYO” on the following dates:
www.nhk.or.jp/songsoftokyo/
Part 1: Dec.31 Sun. 22:10/ Jan. 1 Mon. 5:10/ 12:10/ 18:10 (UTC)
Part 2: Dec. 31 Sun. 23:10/ Jan. 1 Mon. 6:10/ 13:10/ 19:10 (UTC)
Part 3: Jan. 1 Mon. 22:10/ Jan. 2 Tue. 5:10/ 12:10/ 18:10 (UTC)
Part 4: Jan. 1 Mon. 23:10/ Jan. 2 Tue. 6:10/ 13:10/ 19:10 (UTC)
Duration: 48 minutes each
(Source: NHK press release)
24 October 2017
The November programme schedule from NHK WORLD TV includes the following highlights:
Kurara
The Dazzling Life of Hokusai’s Daughter
Part 1: Nov 4 Sat 23:10/ Sun 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC) 42 min.
Part 2: Nov 11 Sat 23:10/ Sun 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC) 40 min.
The first historical drama to be aired on NHK WORLD TV tells the story of the remarkable woman who shared the life of the world-famous artist, Hokusai. It was his daughter, O-Ei, a capable and prominent artist in her own right. She is believed to have worked together with her father on his pictures once he reached middle-age. Female artists were rarely recognized in 19th century Japan, but O-Ei continued to produce art despite financial and romantic problems.
Shoot for Appare!
ABU Asia-Pacific Robocon 2017 Tokyo
Nov 11 Sat 4:10/ 11:10/ 16:10/ 22:10 (UTC) 49 min.
Handmade robots from young engineers competed in this year’s “ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest” in Tokyo. NHK World takes you into the heart of the battle to be number one. In the past 15 contests, China and Vietnam have won five times each; Japan only twice. This year, the Tokyo Institute of Technology and the University of Tokyo attempted to bring the title back to Japan after four years. May the best robot win!
Home Sweet Tokyo
Nov 19, 26, Dec 3, 10 Sun 4:10/ 14:10/ 22:10 (UTC) 17 min. x 4 Episodes
An original comic drama, made especially for international viewers. Londoner Bryan Jenkins finds himself on the other side of the world when he and his family relocate to Japan. He puts aside his advertising career to accept the responsibilities of a stay-at-home dad. While his wife works in the city, he struggles to adapt to cultural differences: making Japanese-style school lunches for their daughter and trying to understand his stoic Japanese father-in-law. The series is directed by the widely celebrated Teruyuki Yoshida, the man behind many hit TV shows and movies.
Gata no Kuni Kara
Part 1: Nov 25 Sat 23:20/ Sun 5:20/ 10:20/ 17:20 (UTC) 39 min.
Part 2: Nov 26 Sun 0:10/ 6:10/ 11:10/ 18:10 (UTC) 27 min.
Popular Thai actor Thiti Mahayotaruk lends his talents to this two-part drama about a fictional Thai personality, a Japanese high school girl, and a magical fish. Mirai is the daughter of the owner of a famous hot spring resort in Saga prefecture, but she is more interested in her pet mudskipper than the hospitality business. Samut, the performer, sees her as a way to escape from the pressures of his career while on location. He wants freedom; she craves social media followers. Together, they overcome language differences and other obstacles to make their way toward the Ariake Sea and a resolution to their journey.
(Source: NHK WORLD TV release)
31 August 2017
In September, the programme of NHK WORLD TV comprises the following hightlights:
Orda Cave
A 300-million-year mystery of creation
Sep 9 Sat 15:10/ 21:10/ Sun 3:10/ 9:10 (UTC) <49 min.>
Nestled at the foot of Russia’s Ural Mountains, Orda Cave is said to be the site of the world’s most beautiful view. For the first time in history, the view has been recorded with a 4K camera, providing entrée to an underground world. The cave’s transparent water and white gypsum minerals lie beneath a field of snow. A specialist explains the mystery behind the cave’s origin, a tale of land and climate change that reaches back 300 million years.
Zhangjiajie’s Miracle Stone Forest
Bird’s-eye view of a Chinese World Heritage Site
Sep 16 Sat 23:10/ Sun 5:10/ 10:10/ 17:10 (UTC) <49 min.>
Thousands of 200-meter-high rock pillars jut out from Zhangjiajie’s Stone Forest. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is known as the inspiration for the world of the movie Avatar. Much of the area is not open to the public, but NHK obtained permission to document its unparalleled beauty using a 4K drone camera. Close-up images of the pillars, along with a perspective on the lives of the inhabitants, reveal the magic of this secluded treasure.
A Tale of Love and Honor
Life in Gion
Sep 23 Sat 15:10/ 21:10/ Sun 3:10/ 9:10 (UTC) <49 min.>
The doors to the 200-year-old Tomiyo tea house open to our cameras to provide a glimpse of the lives of geisha, or geiko as they are known in Kyoto. 77-year-old Kimi is Tomiyo’s eighth generation okami proprietress. She faces the difficult decision of when to pass on her responsibilities to her 45-year-old daughter, who also has outside interests. Tradition and modernity converge in this candid portrait of a rarefied world.
CYCLE AROUND JAPAN
A Summer Journey in Southern Hokkaido
Sep 30 Sat 0:10/ 6:10/ 12:10/ 18:10 (UTC) <49 min. 30 sec.>
This is a 500-kilometer bike ride through the grand scenery of Japan’s northernmost prefecture. The city of Hakodate offers a mix of cultural influences from East and West. Down the road, a port city keeps busy in summertime with kombu kelp drying. The trip includes stops at a dairy farm and a watermelon patch, evidence of the close connection between the people and the land.
